System for excluding unwanted data from a voice recording

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the preparation of a censored recording of an audio source according to a procedure whereby no tangible, durable version of the original audio data is created in the course of preparing the censored record. Further, a method is provided for identifying target speech elements in a primary speech text by iteratively using portions of already identified target elements to locate further target elements that contain identical portions. The target speech elements, once identified, are removed from the primary speech text or rendered unintelligible to produce a censored record of the primary speech text. Copies of such censored primary speech text elements may be transmitted and stored with reduced security precautions.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 893,328 which was filed on Mar. 6, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to identifying specific data of previously unknown specific content in a body of background data. As a specific application, the invention addresses a process of automatically censoring data when creating a voice recording. More particularly, it describes a process for substantially removing unwanted utterances from an audio conversation and producing a first fixation or recording which is free of such utterances so as to maintain the confidentiality of personal information included therein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]While this invention relates generally to identifying specific data of previously unknown specific content in a body of background data, it will initially be explained in the context of censoring audio data. A specific case is where an audio recording is to be made from a live aud...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]According to another aspect, the present invention addresses an apparatus and method for the preparation of a censored recording of audio data originating from either a live audio stream or a recording which is the source of an audio stream by improved identification techniques.

[0038]However, there still may remain uncertainty as to whether all instances of target information, such as the balance of a credit card number in the audio data for which only fragments have been located, remains unidentified in the text. To reduce this uncertainty, the searching of the audio data may be further extended.

Problems solved by technology

A problem arises when personal information communicated by a customer is stored in recordings including those used to evaluate employee performance.

This introduces the risk of a breach in the confidentiality of the customer's personal information arising from unauthorized access to such recordings.

Due the nature of speech recognition, identification of a sequence of words is never absolutely accurate.

However, target information to be identified in a data stream may be of a character that, unless considered in context, may be not fully known or ambiguous.

For example, the removal of as few as 4 of the 16 digits of a credit card render the remaining numbers worthless to ordinary individuals not equipped with high level computing facilities.

The very existence of an initial recorded version of an audio transaction gives rise to security concerns.

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